Polk County officials tour arenas looking for ideas

Polk County officials begin a two-day trip this morning to visit four new sports arenas in the Midwest. Spokesman Phil Roeder says officials will visit arenas in Madison, Indianapolis, Columbus and Little Rock to get ideas for a proposed new arena in downtown Des Moines. He says the cities are all comparable to Des Moines and have facilities that’ve opened within the last two years.Roeder says officials will also be looking at ways the new arenas have helped pay for themselves.Roeder says the effort to build a new arena is NOT tied to the future of the Iowa Barnstormers. Owners of the Arena Football League franchise have said they are considering selling the team in the wake of mounting financial losses. Roeder says the arena effort will go forward with or without the team.